News in English     | 11.02.2018. 18:25 |

Chhabra: Relations between BiH and India have a much greater potential

FENA Kanita Aliagić

SARAJEVO, February 11 (FENA) - Trade exchange between BiH and India amounts to around 80 million USD. BiH exports to India amount to over USD 3 million and Indian export to BiH over 75 million USD.

Interviewer: Kanita Aliagić

In an interview with FENA, the non-resident Ambassador of India, based in Budapest Rahul Chhabra, said that bilateral relations between BiH and India are very friendly, but that the potential is much greater than the current level of cooperation.

He believes that despite good trade cooperation, the main reasons for the low level of trade exchange are the lack of awareness of business potential, poor banking connectivity between the two countries and the lack of reliable credit facilities.

He also listed the main items of Indian export to BiH which are textiles, cotton, products made of iron and steel, glassware, organic chemicals, carpets and other textile floor coverings and motor vehicle accessories.  Important goods that BiH exports to India are mineral fuels, inorganic chemicals, toys, sports equipment and wool.

“I think that the full potential of mutual cooperation depends on how we look at each other in terms of our immediate interests. Cooperation has been progressing lately in the areas of political exchange, social and cultural contacts and exchange among people through the issuing of e-visas from the state of India, which tripled the arrival of tourists in India in the past three years. But, a lot more has to be done,” said the Ambassador.

He added that more than 300 online visas were issued and the citizens of BiH are happy that they do not have to go to Budapest to get visas.

“We are trying to open new areas of cooperation and work on local levels. Alos, considering the great interest for yoga, in Mostar and Sarajevo, the International Yoga Day was held in cooperation with the University of Modern Sciences in Mostar C = KM2 and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sarajevo,” he said , and announced that the same event will be held in Zenica.

The Indian Ambassador recalled that a delegation of 34 business people from India participated in the Sarajevo Business Forum from 22 to 23 May 2017, and India was one of the countries in the focus. The results of this participation will be visible in the following period.

Our participation, said Chhabra, confirmed the need for further exchange of information on investment opportunities and the solution of the issue of investment protection and the improvement of the platform for future business dialogue.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina is still relatively unknown in Indian business circles. This can change if we have more events like the Sarajevo Business Forum. We have also participated in the International Fair in Mostar in the last two years” said Ambassador Chhabra.

He says they will continue to explore and participate in business events and seminars in BiH and also want to encourage business people and companies from BiH to participate in business forums in India.

“An opportunity for such a participation comes at the prestigious IE29BF (India-Europe 29 Business Forum), which will be held on 5 and 6 March 2018 in New Delhi, and I hope that a delegation from BiH will take part in this event,” he said.

Given that the Government of India implements a student scholarship project, the Ambassador said that the program of technical and economic assistance from the state of India, established in 1964, was a breakthrough when it comes to the exchange of knowledge under the auspices of South-South Cooperation, and that BiH has the opportunity to use the benefits of this program to even greater extent.

The ITEC program is fully funded by the Government of India, which also funds airline tickets, school allowance, food and books, and thousands of students from around the world went through this program in India. The Ambassador of India believes that it is now time for BiH to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides.

“We have another ICCR scholarship for learning Hindi language at two levels, UG and PG, which might be interesting for young people in BiH,” said Chhabra.

Additional information on the program is available on the website: http://www.indianembassy.hu/

India's potential in IT technology has been recognized worldwide, and Ambassador Chhabra has already announced the opening of two IT centers in Sarajevo and Banja Luka, and says they are still supporting the opening of two centers of excellence in Sarajevo and Banja Luka. Therefore, the governments of BiH and India are currently conducting consultation in connection with the finalization of the modalities of this project.

Traveling across Bosnia and Herzegovina, he noted that what links Bosnia and Herzegovina and India is that both countries are multiethnic, multicultural, multi-religious, democratic societies.

Therefore, he announced that this year the Embassy of India will organize the International Day of Yoga with the performance of Indian artists in several cities of BiH from June 23 to 24.

“The goal of celebrating the International Day of Yoga is to get people acquainted with this ancient, 5,000-year-old philosophical-religious meditation system. Yoga not only makes you physically and mentally stronger, but also encourages you to lead a healthy lifestyle.

The idea is that through cultural events and activities the people in Bosnia and Herzegovina can get better acquainted with India and its culture,” said Ambassador Rahul Chhabra, the non-resident Ambassador of India to BiH, based in Budapest, in an interview with FENA.

The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 the International Yoga Day. The Embassy of India has traditionally celebrated the International Yoga Day in a number of cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last three years.

(FENA) S. R.

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